Ronnie Milsap

American country singer (b. 1943)

"Milsap" redirects here. For other uses, see Millsap (disambiguation).

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Ronnie Milsap

Milsap in 2019

Background information
Birth name| Ronald Lee Millsaps
Born|  (1943-01-16) January 16, 1943 (age 82)
Robbinsville, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres| Country,[1] blue-eyed soul
Occupation(s)| Singer, musician
Instrument(s)| Vocals, piano
Years active| 1963–present
Labels|

* Liberty
* Pacemaker
* Princess (Crazy Cajun)
* Pye International
* RCA Records
* Scepter
* Wand

Spouse|

Joyce Reeves

(m. 1965; died 2021)​

Website| ronniemilsap.com

Musical artist

Ronnie Lee Milsap (born Ronald Lee Millsaps; January 16, 1943) is an American country music singer and pianist.[2] He was one of country music's most popular and influential performers of the 1970s and 1980s. Nearly completely blind from birth, he became one of the most successful and versatile country "crossover" singers of his time, appealing to both country and pop music markets with hit songs that incorporated pop, R&B, and rock and roll elements. His biggest crossover hits include "It Was Almost Like a Song", "Smoky Mountain Rain", "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me", "I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World", "Any Day Now", and "Stranger in My House". He is credited with six Grammy Awards and 35 number-one country hits, fourth to George Strait, Conway Twitty, and Merle Haggard. He was selected for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2014.[3][4]

## Career

[edit]

### Early life (1943–1971)

[edit]

Milsap was born January 16, 1943, in Robbinsville, North Carolina.[2] A congenital disorder left him almost completely blind from birth.[2] Abandoned by his mother as an infant, he was raised in poverty by his grandparents in the Smoky Mountains until he was sent to the North Carolina State School for the Blind and Deaf in Raleigh, North Carolina, at age five.[2]

During his childhood, Milsap developed a passion for music, particularly the late-night radio broadcasts of country music, gospel music, and rhythm and blues. When he was 7, his instructors noticed his musical talents. Soon afterward he began formal study of classical music at Governor Morehead School and learned several instruments, eventually mastering the piano.

When he was 14, a slap from one of the school's houseparents caused him to lose what very limited vision he had in his left eye.[2][5]

With the national breakthrough of Elvis Presley in 1956, Milsap became interested in rock and roll music and formed a rock band called the Apparitions with fellow high-school students. In concert, Milsap has often paid tribute to the musicians of the 1950s who inspired him including Ray Charles, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Presley.

Milsap was awarded a full college scholarship and briefly attended Young Harris College in Young Harris, Georgia, with plans to become a lawyer.[2] During this time, Milsap joined a popular local R&B band called the Dimensions that played gigs in the Atlanta area, and became a regular attraction at the rough and rowdy Royal Peacock Club. In the fall of 1964, Milsap declined a scholarship to law school and left college to pursue a full-time career in music. He met Joyce Reeves one night at a dinner party during this period, after which the two were married in 1965.

In 1963, Milsap met Atlanta disc jockey Pat Hughes, who became an early supporter of his music career. Milsap recorded his first single, "Total Disaster/It Went to Your Head",[6] which enjoyed some local success in the Atlanta area. The single sold 15,000 copies with the help of Hughes, who played the record on his radio show. Around this same time, Milsap auditioned for a job as a keyboardist for musician J. J. Cale.[2] In 1965, Milsap signed with New York–based Scepter Records, recording several obscure singles for the label over the next few years,[2] and working briefly with other soul musicians like Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder.

Also in 1965, Milsap scored his first hit with the Ashford & Simpson–penned single, "Never Had It So Good", which peaked at No. 19 on the R&B chart in November of that year.[7][8] It would be his only successful single during his time with Scepter. Milsap cut another Ashford & Simpson tune, "Let's Go Get Stoned", that was relegated to a B-side.[2]

In the late 1960s, after moving to Memphis, Tennessee, Milsap worked for producer Chips Moman and became a popular weekly attraction at the Memphis nightclub T.J.'s. During this time, Moman helped Milsap land work as a session musician on numerous projects including several recordings with Elvis Presley such as "Don't Cry Daddy" in 1969 and "Kentucky Rain" in 1970.[2] That same year, Milsap made the lower reaches of the pop charts with the single "Loving You Is a Natural Thing". He recorded and released his debut album, Ronnie Milsap, on Warner Brothers in 1971.[2]

### Breakthrough success (1973–1975)

[edit]

Milsap in 1974

In December 1972, Milsap relocated to Nashville after a chance meeting with country music star Charley Pride who was in the audience for a Milsap gig at the nightclub Whiskey A-Go-Go on Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles.[9] Pride was impressed with Milsap's singing and encouraged him to change course and focus on country music. Milsap began working with Pride's manager, Jack D. Johnson, and was signed to RCA Records in 1973.[2] He released his first single for RCA that year, "I Hate You", which became his first country music success, peaking at No. 10 on the country chart. In 1974, Milsap toured with Pride as an opening act and had two No. 1 singles: "Pure Love" (written by Eddie Rabbitt) and the Kris Kristofferson composition "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends" which won Milsap his first Grammy. In 1975, he revived the Don Gibson song "(I'd Be) A Legend in My Time" and scored another No. 1 hit with "Daydreams About Night Things".

### "It Was Almost Like a Song" (1976–1978)

[edit]

From 1976 to 1978, Milsap became one of country music's biggest stars. He scored seven No. 1 singles in a row, including the Grammy-winning "(I'm a) Stand by My Woman Man" and "What a Difference You've Made in My Life". The most significant of this series was "It Was Almost Like a Song" in 1977, a piano-based ballad, which became his most successful single of the 1970s. In addition to topping the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, the song was his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart since "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends" reached No. 95; "It Was Almost Like a Song," reached No. 16. It was also his first song to make the Adult Contemporary Chart, stopping at No. 7. While the song was Milsap's only crossover success of the 1970s, he continued to achieve hits on the country music charts for the remainder of the decade.

### Crossover success (1979–1992)

[edit]

Milsap's sound shifted toward string-laden pop ballads during the late 1970s which resulted in crossover success on the pop charts beginning in the early 1980s. From 1980 until 1983, he scored a series of eleven No. 1 singles. Milsap's Greatest Hits album, released in 1980, included a new single, "Smoky Mountain Rain", which became a No. 1 smash on the country charts. The single peaked in the Top 20 on the pop music chart and also became the first of two Milsap songs to score No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Other crossover successes included the Top 5 pop single, "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me", and two Top 20 songs in "I Wouldn't Have Missed It For the World" and "Any Day Now", the latter which lasted five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. He also had some success with "He Got You". All four songs reached No. 1 on the country music charts.

Although the series of No. 1 hits ended in 1983, the last song of the series, "Stranger in My House", was still successful on all three charts, peaking at No. 5 on the country music chart, No. 23 on the pop music chart, and No. 8 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Just a few months later, "Don't You Know How Much I Love You" was released, becoming Milsap's last significant entry on the pop music chart, stopping at No. 58. However it, along with others, still became major successes on the Adult Contemporary chart. These successful singles include "Show Her", "Still Losing You", and finally, the Grammy-winning song "Lost in the Fifties Tonight" (his last pop crossover success) in 1985.

Between 1985 and 1987, Milsap enjoyed a series of uninterrupted No. 1 country singles, enjoying great success at this time with "She Keeps the Home Fires Burning", "In Love", "Snap Your Fingers", "Where Do the Nights Go", and the Grammy-winning duet with Kenny Rogers, "Make No Mistake, She's Mine". In 1987, Milsap contributed the theme song to the short-lived NBC television series J.J. Starbuck.

In 1989, Milsap had his last No. 1 song with "A Woman in Love", although he still remained successful on the charts. Other Top 10 singles between 1989 and 1991 include "Houston Solution", "Stranger Things Have Happened", "Turn That Radio On", a remake of the 1950s hit "Since I Don't Have You" (his last adult contemporary hit) and "Are You Loving Me Like I'm loving You". With the help of writer Tom Carter, Milsap wrote and released his autobiography, titled Almost like a Song, in 1990.

In 1992, he had a major success with "All Is Fair in Love and War". The song featured rock guitarist Mark Knopfler on lead guitar and peaked at No. 11; his last top-40 country hit, "True Believer," peaked in 1993 at No. 30. By that time, however, Milsap's chart success began to decline.

### Since 1993: Life today

[edit]

This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.
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## Since 1993: Life today

Milsap has remained one of country music's most beloved performers despite a decline in radio airplay after the mid-1990s. In 1993, he released True Believer[10] on Liberty Records and even as his contemporaries were no longer played on country radio, scored a Top 30 hit on the country chart with the title track. In 2000, he resurfaced with 40 No. 1 Hits, a two-disc retrospective which hit the Country Top 20 and earned gold certification.[11] That same year, his life and career were profiled in an episode of Biography, reflecting on his musical legacy and crossover success.[12]

In 2004, Milsap recorded Just for a Thrill, a collection of pop and jazz standards.[13] The album marked a stylistic departure and earned a Grammy nomination. He returned to RCA Records in 2006 and a mainstream country sound with My Life.[14] His two-disc gospel set Then Sings My Soul (2009) reached the Southern gospel charts[15], and Country Again (2011) reflected a more traditional country style.[16]

In 2014, Rolling Stone included "Smoky Mountain Rain" among its 100 greatest country songs.[17] That year, Milsap released Summer #17, an album of nostalgic pop and R&B covers.

He was among 30 artists featured on "Forever Country" in 2016, a mash-up honoring the 50th CMA Awards.[18] In 2019, he returned to the charts with Ronnie Milsap: The Duets, featuring collaborations with Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, George Strait, and others.[19] A duet version of "Smoky Mountain Rain" with Parton reached the Adult Contemporary top 30.

By 2020, Milsap had installed a new home studio and continued to record. His album A Better Word for Love followed in 2021.[20] In 2022, he contributed "Oh, Lady Be Good!" to In 2022, he contributed “Oh, Lady Be Good!” to Michael Feinstein’s Gershwin Country, a tribute to George and Ira Gershwin[21] and launched a podcast, Music and Milsap.[22] That same year, he inducted Ray Charles into the Country Music Hall of Fame[23] and was later inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame.[24]

Milsap’s final concert, for which he was joined by longtime collaborators and other country stars, took place October 3, 2023, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.[25] The event marked the end of his touring career, several months after celebrating his 80th birthday on stage at the Grand Ole Opry. Though retired from the road, he continues to record.

### Amateur radio operator

[edit]

Milsap is an Advanced-class amateur radio operator. His call sign is WB4KCG.[26]

## Personal life

[edit]

In 1965, Milsap married Joyce Reeves.[27] They had one son, Ronald "Todd" Milsap, who was found dead on his houseboat at the age of 49 on February 23, 2019, from an apparent medical condition.[28] Todd's son, who had not heard from his father for the previous two days, found the body. Joyce, who had been battling leukemia since 2014, died on September 6, 2021, at the age of 81.[27][29]

## Discography

[edit]

Main article: Ronnie Milsap discography

## Industry awards and honors

[edit]

Academy of Country Music

* 1982 Top Male Vocalist
* 1985 Song of the Year – "Lost in the Fifties Tonight"
* 1988 Instrumentalist of the Year, Keyboards
* 2002 Pioneer Award

Billboard

* 1980 No. 1 Country Song of the Year – "My Heart"
* 1985 No. 1 Country Song of the Year – "Lost in the Fifties Tonight"

Country Music Association

* 1974 Male Vocalist of the Year
* 1975 Album of the Year – A Legend in My Time
* 1976 Male Vocalist of the Year
* 1977 Album of the Year – Ronnie Milsap Live
* 1977 Entertainer of the Year
* 1977 Male Vocalist of the Year
* 1978 Album of the Year – It Was Almost Like a Song
* 1986 Album of the Year – Lost in the Fifties Tonight

Country Music Hall of Fame 2014 Inductee

Grammy Awards

* 1975 Best Male Country Vocal Performance – "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends"
* 1977 Best Male Country Vocal Performance – "(I'm a) Stand by My Woman Man"
* 1982 Best Male Country Vocal Performance – "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me"
* 1986 Best Male Country Vocal Performance – "Lost in the Fifties Tonight"
* 1987 Best Male Country Vocal Performance – "Lost in the Fifties Tonight"
* 1988 Best Country Collaboration with Vocals – "Make No Mistake, She's Mine" (w/ Kenny Rogers)

Music City News Country

* 1975 Most Promising Male Artist

Miscellaneous achievements

* 40 No. 1 hits, 35 of which reached the top spot on the Billboard chart; the remaining 5 topped other trade charts, including Cashbox
* Over 35 million albums sold
* Inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1976
* Inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2002[30]
* Awarded the Career Achievement Award by Country Radio Seminar in 2006
* Awarded the 2007 Rocketown Legend Award

Other honors
On December 2, 2020, six miles of U.S. 129 in Graham County, North Carolina, from Yellow Creek near Robbinsville to the Swain County line, was designated Ronnie Milsap Highway.[31]

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Milsap, Ronnie; Carter, Tom (1990). Almost Like a Song. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0070423749.

## See also

[edit]

* List of best selling music artists

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ronnie Lee Milsap oldies.com Retrieved 21 November 2024
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 848/9. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
3. ^ Goldsmith, Thomas. "Ronnie Milsap". countrymusichalloffame.org. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
4. ^ "Country Hall of Fame Taps Ronnie Milsap, Mac Wiseman, Hank Cochran". Rolling Stone. April 22, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
5. ^ "Ronnie Milsap "Talks about going blind" at timestamp 6:41". YouTube. February 10, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
6. ^ "Ronnie Milsap". Biography.com. April 6, 2021.
7. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (The Week of November 27, 1965)". Billboard.com. Billboard Music. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
8. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 402.
9. ^ Richards, Kevin (September 30, 2012). "Country Stars Discovered By Charley Pride". wgna.com. Taste of Country Network. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
10. ^ "True Believer (Ronnie Milsap album)". Wikipedia. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
11. ^ "40 Number 1 Hits". Wikipedia. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
12. ^ "Biography: Ronnie Milsap – Almost Like a Song". IMDb. October 12, 2000. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
13. ^ "Just for a Thrill". RonnieMilsap.com. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
14. ^ "My Life". RonnieMilsap.com. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
15. ^ "Then Sings My Soul". RonnieMilsap.com. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
16. ^ "Country Again". RonnieMilsap.com. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
17. ^ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-country-songs-of-all-time-108885/ronnie-milsap-smoky-mountain-rain-1980-109166/
18. ^ https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/scenes-cmas-historic-music-video-featuring-30-country/story?id=42129062
19. ^ https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8477900/ronnie-milsap-announces-duets-album
20. ^ https://www.soundslikenashville.com/news/ronnie-milsap-better-word-for-love-album/
21. ^ https://store.concord.com/products/gershwin-country
22. ^ https://ronniemilsap.com/ronnie-milsap-to-debut-new-podcast/
23. ^ https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/10/17/2022-country-music-hall-of-fame-induction-ceremony-ray-charles-the-judds-pete-drake/69555216007/
24. ^ https://memphismusichalloffame.com/inductee/ronnie-milsap/
25. ^ https://ronniemilsap.com/ronnie-milsap-announces-final-nashville-show/
26. ^ "Amateur License – WB4KCG – MILSAP, RONALD L", Federal Communications Commission.
27. ^ a b Willman, Chris (September 7, 2021). "Joyce Milsap, Wife and Song Vetter to Country Star Ronnie Milsap, Dies at 81". Variety.
28. ^ Merrett, Robyn; Michaud, Sarah (February 25, 2019). "Country Star Ronnie Milsap's Son Found Dead on Nashville Houseboat: 'Todd Was a Force of Joy'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
29. ^ Farthing, Lydia (September 7, 2021). "Ronnie Milsap Mourns Loss Of Wife, Joyce". MusicRow.com. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
30. ^ "2002 Inductees". North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
31. ^ Stradling, Richard (December 5, 2020). "North Carolina puts name of country music star Milsap on stretch of US Highway 129". News and Observer.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Ronnie Milsap at AllMusic
* Ronnie Milsap discography at Discogs
* Ronnie Milsap at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Ronnie Milsap

Studio albums|

* Ronnie Milsap
* Where My Heart Is
* Pure Love
* Legend in My Time
* A Rose By Any Other Name
* Night Things
* 20/20 Vision
* It Was Almost Like a Song
* Only One Love in My Life
* Images
* Milsap Magic
* Out Where the Bright Lights Are Glowing
* There's No Gettin' Over Me
* Inside
* Keyed Up
* One More Try for Love
* Lost in the Fifties Tonight
* Christmas with Ronnie Milsap
* Heart & Soul
* Stranger Things Have Happened
* Back to the Grindstone
* True Believer
* Sings His Best for Capitol Records
* Just for a Thrill
* My Life
* Then Sings My Soul

Compilation albums|

* Greatest Hits
* Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
* Greatest Hits, Vol. 3
* 40 #1 Hits
* 16 Biggest Hits

#1 singles|

* "Pure Love"
* "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends"
* "(I'd Be) A Legend in My Time"
* "Daydreams About Night Things"
* "What Goes On When the Sun Goes Down"
* "(I'm A) Stand by My Woman Man"
* "Let My Love Be Your Pillow"
* "It Was Almost Like a Song"
* "What a Difference You've Made in My Life"
* "Only One Love in My Life"
* "Let's Take the Long Way Around the World"
* "Back on My Mind Again"
* "Nobody Likes Sad Songs"
* "Why Don't You Spend the Night"
* "My Heart"
* "Cowboys and Clowns"
* "Smoky Mountain Rain"
* "Am I Losing You"
* "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me"
* "I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World"
* "Any Day Now"
* "He Got You"
* "Inside"
* "Stranger in My House"
* "Don't You Know How Much I Love You"
* "Show Her"
* "Still Losing You"
* "She Keeps the Home Fires Burning"
* "Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)"
* "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby"
* "In Love"
* "How Do I Turn You On"
* "Snap Your Fingers"
* "Make No Mistake, She's Mine" (with Kenny Rogers)
* "Where Do the Nights Go"
* "Don't You Ever Get Tired (Of Hurting Me)"
* "A Woman in Love"
* "Stranger Things Have Happened"

Other songs|

* "Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry"
* "Just in Case"
* "In No Time at All"
* "Prisoner of the Highway"
* "Old Folks" (with Mike Reid)
* "Button Off My Shirt"
* "Houston Solution"
* "Are You Lovin' Me Like I'm Lovin' You"
* "Since I Don't Have You"
* "Turn That Radio On"
* "All Is Fair in Love and War"
* "True Believer"

Related articles|

* Discography

Awards for Ronnie Milsap

* v
* t
* e

CMA Album of the Year

1967−1970|

* There Goes My Everything – Jack Greene (1967)
* Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison – Johnny Cash (1968)
* Johnny Cash At San Quentin – Johnny Cash (1969)
* Okie from Muskogee – Merle Haggard and the Strangers (1970)

1971−1980|

* I Won't Mention It Again – Ray Price (1971)
* Let Me Tell You About a Song – Merle Haggard and the Strangers (1972)
* Behind Closed Doors – Charlie Rich (1973)
* A Very Special Love Song – Charlie Rich (1974)
* A Legend in My Time – Ronnie Milsap (1975)
* Wanted! The Outlaws – Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser (1976)
* Ronnie Milsap Live – Ronnie Milsap (1977)
* It Was Almost Like a Song – Ronnie Milsap (1978)
* The Gambler – Kenny Rogers (1979)
* Coal Miner's Daughter – Various artists (1980)

1981−1990|

* I Believe in You – Don Williams (1981)
* Always on My Mind – Willie Nelson (1982)
* The Closer You Get – Alabama (1983)
* A Little Good News – Anne Murray (1984)
* Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind – George Strait (1985)
* Lost in the Fifties Tonight – Ronnie Milsap (1986)
* Always And Forever – Randy Travis (1987)
* Born to Boogie – Hank Williams Jr. (1988)
* Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1989)
* Pickin' on Nashville – The Kentucky Headhunters (1990)

1991−2000|

* No Fences – Garth Brooks (1991)
* Ropin' the Wind – Garth Brooks (1992)
* I Still Believe in You – Vince Gill (1993)
* Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles – Various artists (1994)
* When Fallen Angels Fly – Patty Loveless (1995)
* Blue Clear Sky – George Strait (1996)
* Carrying Your Love with Me – George Strait (1997)
* Everywhere – Tim McGraw (1998)
* A Place in the Sun – Tim McGraw (1999)
* Fly – The Dixie Chicks (2000)

2001−2010|

* O Brother, Where Art Thou? – Various artists (2001)
* Drive – Alan Jackson (2002)
* American IV: The Man Comes Around – Johnny Cash (2003)
* When the Sun Goes Down – Kenny Chesney (2004)
* There's More Where That Came From – Lee Ann Womack (2005)
* Time Well Wasted – Brad Paisley (2006)
* It Just Comes Natural – George Strait (2007)
* Troubadour – George Strait (2008)
* Fearless – Taylor Swift (2009)
* Revolution – Miranda Lambert (2010)

2011−2020|

* My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean (2011)
* Chief – Eric Church (2012)
* Based on a True Story... – Blake Shelton (2013)
* Platinum – Miranda Lambert (2014)
* Traveller – Chris Stapleton (2015)
* Mr. Misunderstood – Eric Church (2016)
* From A Room: Volume 1 – Chris Stapleton (2017)
* Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves (2018)
* Girl – Maren Morris (2019)
* What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs (2020)

2021−2030|

* Starting Over – Chris Stapleton (2021)
* Growin' Up – Luke Combs (2022)
* Bell Bottom Country \- Lainey Wilson (2023)
* Leather \- Cody Johnson (2024)

* v
* t
* e

CMA Entertainer of the Year

* Eddy Arnold (1967)
* Glen Campbell (1968)
* Johnny Cash (1969)
* Merle Haggard (1970)
* Charley Pride (1971)
* Loretta Lynn (1972)
* Roy Clark (1973)
* Charlie Rich (1974)
* John Denver (1975)
* Mel Tillis (1976)
* Ronnie Milsap (1977)
* Dolly Parton (1978)
* Willie Nelson (1979)
* Barbara Mandrell (1980)
* Barbara Mandrell (1981)
* Alabama (1982)
* Alabama (1983)
* Alabama (1984)
* Ricky Skaggs (1985)
* Reba McEntire (1986)
* Hank Williams Jr. (1987)
* Hank Williams Jr. (1988)
* George Strait (1989)
* George Strait (1990)
* Garth Brooks (1991)
* Garth Brooks (1992)
* Vince Gill (1993)
* Vince Gill (1994)
* Alan Jackson (1995)
* Brooks & Dunn (1996)
* Garth Brooks (1997)
* Garth Brooks (1998)
* Shania Twain (1999)
* Dixie Chicks (2000)
* Tim McGraw (2001)
* Alan Jackson (2002)
* Alan Jackson (2003)
* Kenny Chesney (2004)
* Keith Urban (2005)
* Kenny Chesney (2006)
* Kenny Chesney (2007)
* Kenny Chesney (2008)
* Taylor Swift (2009)
* Brad Paisley (2010)
* Taylor Swift (2011)
* Blake Shelton (2012)
* George Strait (2013)
* Luke Bryan (2014)
* Luke Bryan (2015)
* Garth Brooks (2016)
* Garth Brooks (2017)
* Keith Urban (2018)
* Garth Brooks (2019)
* Eric Church (2020)
* Luke Combs (2021)
* Luke Combs (2022)
* Lainey Wilson (2023)
* Morgan Wallen (2024)

* v
* t
* e

CMA Male Vocalist of the Year

* Jack Greene (1967)
* Glen Campbell (1968)
* Johnny Cash (1969)
* Merle Haggard (1970)
* Charley Pride (1971)
* Charley Pride (1972)
* Charlie Rich (1973)
* Ronnie Milsap (1974)
* Waylon Jennings (1975)
* Ronnie Milsap (1976)
* Ronnie Milsap (1977)
* Don Williams (1978)
* Kenny Rogers (1979)
* George Jones (1980)
* George Jones (1981)
* Ricky Skaggs (1982)
* Lee Greenwood (1983)
* Lee Greenwood (1984)
* George Strait (1985)
* George Strait (1986)
* Randy Travis (1987)
* Randy Travis (1988)
* Ricky Van Shelton (1989)
* Clint Black (1990)
* Vince Gill (1991)
* Vince Gill (1992)
* Vince Gill (1993)
* Vince Gill (1994)
* Vince Gill (1995)
* George Strait (1996)
* George Strait (1997)
* George Strait (1998)
* Tim McGraw (1999)
* Tim McGraw (2000)
* Toby Keith (2001)
* Alan Jackson (2002)
* Alan Jackson (2003)
* Keith Urban (2004)
* Keith Urban (2005)
* Keith Urban (2006)
* Brad Paisley (2007)
* Brad Paisley (2008)
* Brad Paisley (2009)
* Blake Shelton (2010)
* Blake Shelton (2011)
* Blake Shelton (2012)
* Blake Shelton (2013)
* Blake Shelton (2014)
* Chris Stapleton (2015)
* Chris Stapleton (2016)
* Chris Stapleton (2017)
* Chris Stapleton (2018)
* Luke Combs (2019)
* Luke Combs (2020)
* Chris Stapleton (2021)
* Chris Stapleton (2022)
* Chris Stapleton (2023)
* Chris Stapleton (2024)

* v
* t
* e

Country Music Hall of Fame 2010s

* Jimmy Dean (2010)
* Ferlin Husky (2010)
* Billy Sherrill (2010)
* Don Williams (2010)
* Bobby Braddock (2011)
* Reba McEntire (2011)
* Jean Shepard (2011)
* Garth Brooks (2012)
* Hargus "Pig" Robbins (2012)
* Connie Smith (2012)
* Bobby Bare (2013)
* Jack Clement (2013)
* Kenny Rogers (2013)
* Hank Cochran (2014)
* Ronnie Milsap (2014)
* Mac Wiseman (2014)
* Jim Ed Brown and The Browns (2015)
* Grady Martin (2015)
* The Oak Ridge Boys (2015)
* Charlie Daniels (2016)
* Fred Foster (2016)
* Randy Travis (2016)
* Alan Jackson (2017)
* Jerry Reed (2017)
* Don Schlitz (2017)
* Ricky Skaggs (2018)
* Dottie West (2018)
* Johnny Gimble (2018)
* Brooks & Dunn (2019)
* Ray Stevens (2019)
* Jerry Bradley (2019)

* v
* t
* e

Members of the Grand Ole Opry

Current members|

* Trace Adkins
* Lauren Alaina
* Bill Anderson
* Kelsea Ballerini
* Bobby Bare
* Mandy Barnett
* Dierks Bentley
* Clint Black
* Garth Brooks
* T. Graham Brown
* Steven Curtis Chapman
* Henry Cho
* Terri Clark
* Luke Combs
* John Conlee
* Dailey & Vincent
* Diamond Rio
* Sara Evans
* Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers
* Crystal Gayle
* Vince Gill
* Emmylou Harris
* The Isaacs
* Alan Jackson
* Chris Janson
* Jamey Johnson
* Alison Krauss
* Lady A
* Little Big Town
* Patty Loveless
* Dustin Lynch
* Barbara Mandrell
* Martina McBride
* Ashley McBryde
* Del McCoury
* Charlie McCoy
* Scotty McCreery
* Reba McEntire
* Ronnie Milsap
* Eddie Montgomery
* Craig Morgan
* Lorrie Morgan
* Gary Mule Deer
* The Oak Ridge Boys
* Old Crow Medicine Show
* Brad Paisley
* Jon Pardi
* Dolly Parton
* Carly Pearce
* Stu Phillips
* Jeanne Pruett
* Rascal Flatts
* Riders in the Sky
* Darius Rucker
* Don Schlitz
* Jeannie Seely
* Blake Shelton
* Ricky Van Shelton
* Ricky Skaggs
* Connie Smith
* Mike Snider
* Marty Stuart
* Pam Tillis
* Randy Travis
* Travis Tritt
* Josh Turner
* Carrie Underwood
* Keith Urban
* Rhonda Vincent
* Steve Wariner
* Gene Watson
* The Whites
* Mark Wills
* Lainey Wilson
* Trisha Yearwood
* Chris Young

Former members|

* Roy Acuff
* David "Stringbean" Akeman
* Jack Anglin
* Eddy Arnold
* Ernest Ashworth
* Chet Atkins
* DeFord Bailey
* Bashful Brother Oswald
* Humphrey Bate
* Binkley Brothers' Dixie Clodhoppers
* Margie Bowes
* Rod Brasfield
* Jim Ed Brown
* The Browns
* Carl Butler and Pearl
* Archie Campbell
* Bill Carlisle
* Martha Carson
* The Carter Sisters
* Maybelle Carter
* Johnny Cash
* June Carter Cash
* Roy Clark
* Zeke Clements
* Patsy Cline
* Jerry Clower
* Stoney Cooper
* Wilma Lee Cooper
* Cowboy Copas
* Charlie Daniels
* Skeeter Davis
* The Delmore Brothers
* The DeZurik Sisters
* Little Jimmy Dickens
* Joe Diffie
* Danny Dill
* Jimmy Driftwood
* Roy Drusky
* The Duke of Paducah
* Holly Dunn
* The Everly Brothers
* Lester Flatt
* Red Foley
* Curly Fox
* Lefty Frizzell
* Troy Gentry
* Don Gibson
* Billy Grammer
* Jack Greene
* The Gully Jumpers
* Theron Hale
* Tom T. Hall
* George Hamilton IV
* Sid Harkreader
* Hawkshaw Hawkins
* George D. Hay
* Hoot Hester
* Goldie Hill
* David Houston
* Jan Howard
* Ferlin Husky
* Stonewall Jackson
* Sonny James
* Norma Jean
* Jim & Jesse
* Johnnie & Jack
* George Jones
* Grandpa Jones
* The Jordanaires
* Doug Kershaw
* Hal Ketchum
* Bradley Kincaid
* Pee Wee King
* Hank Locklin
* Lonzo and Oscar
* Bobby Lord
* The Louvin Brothers
* Charlie Louvin
* Ira Louvin
* Bob Luman
* Loretta Lynn
* Uncle Dave Macon
* Rose Maddox
* Mel McDaniel
* Jesse McReynolds
* McGee Brothers
* Bill Monroe
* George Morgan
* Moon Mullican
* Willie Nelson
* Jimmy C. Newman
* Bobby Osborne
* Sonny Osborne
* Johnny Paycheck
* Minnie Pearl
* Webb Pierce
* Ray Pillow
* Ray Price
* Charley Pride
* Del Reeves
* Jim Reeves
* Leon Rhodes
* Tex Ritter
* Marty Robbins
* Johnny Russell
* Rusty and Doug
* Earl Scruggs
* Jean Shepard
* Mississippi Slim
* Carl Smith
* Fiddlin' Arthur Smith
* Hank Snow
* Red Sovine
* Ralph Stanley
* Texas Ruby
* B. J. Thomas
* Uncle Jimmy Thompson
* Mel Tillis
* Tompall & the Glaser Brothers
* Ernest Tubb
* Justin Tubb
* Leroy Van Dyke
* Porter Wagoner
* Billy Walker
* Charlie Walker
* Kitty Wells
* Dottie West
* Keith Whitley†
* Slim Whitman
* The Wilburn Brothers
* Don Williams
* Hank Williams
* Boxcar Willie
* The Willis Brothers
* Chubby Wise
* Del Wood
* Marion Worth
* Johnnie Wright
* Tammy Wynette
* Faron Young

†Honorary former member; was scheduled to be invited, but died before the invitation was extended

Pending members|

* Steve Earle

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Australia
* Czech Republic
* Netherlands
* Israel

Artists|

* MusicBrainz
* Grammy Awards

People|

* Trove

Other|

* SNAC

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